Well, it's about time this title turned its attention to J. Jonah Jameson. Few supporting characters have been a part of Spider-Man's world for as long as JJJ, and he merits the spotlight. Furthermore, J.K. Simmons's thoroughly entertaining and over-the-top portrayal of the character this past summer was the best part of the Spider-Man movie. He spotlighted the immense comedy potential of the character, but he also carries strong dramatic potential as well. Unfortunately, Wells tries to go both routes, and the split focus hurts the story.
J. Jonah Jameson is forced to visit a therapist, and he's determined to be as uncooperative as humanly possible. But thanks to his patient's boisterous and egocentric nature, the doctor manages to easily probe into his psyche. He learns of a boy who was heavily influence by an abusive father. He learns of a reluctant but ultimately fulfilling romance. And he uncovers a possible explanation for the newspaper publisher's irrational hatred of Spider-Man.
Wells seems torn between the inherent potential for humor and drama in the main character, and he doesn't make a choice of which one to emphasize here. Sometimes, the two can compliment one another -- just think of M*A*S*H -- but this isn't one of those times. The shifts from one tone to the other are jarring, and they interrupt the flow of the story. Mind you, it's clear that if Wells had emphasized one over the other, he definitely would have had a winner on his hands.
Furthermore, it's not as though there's no entertainment value to be had here. Wells offers some genuine insight into the character. He has fun with his more extreme, one-dimensional qualities, but he also points to some depth. At the end of the book, I felt as though I had a better understanding of the character, and I'd actually welcome a deeper examination.
Haspiel's exaggerated style suits the extreme personality of the central character. His thick-lined style captures the gruff nature of Jameson nicely, and it fits right in with the more comedic moments of the script as well. Bucellato's muted colors, on the other hand, reinforce the more serious side of JJJ's story. Unlike the script, though, the dichotomy in the art works.
